Twins announce that they will outright Nick Blackburn and Tsuyoshi Nishioka off the 40-man roster.

Since being recalled from Rochester, Blackburn had made six starts only to compile a 0-4 record with an pear-shaped 6.11 ERA while opponents hit .351/.367/.576. The Twins, who had beat the drums that there would be no more "scholarships" for their players, reacted swiftly to Blackburn's struggles and recent quotes which seems to irk the front office.

Clearly the Twins were not sold on Blackburn's ability to bounce back. As assistant GM Rob Antony told reporters on Saturday in Seattle:

[FONT=Arial]"We're going to try to figure out what the right thing is to try and get this guy back on track," said [/FONT]Rob Antony, Twins assistant general manager, on Saturday. "He had some concerning statements. 'I'm not sure what to do' -- when big-leaguers have thoughts like that, then you know their confidence is struggling."

Nishioka, meanwhile, had been hitting .252/.311/.313 in the International League and was completely overmatched in his short stint with the Twins this year.

The move leaves the team with 38 players on their 40-man roster.

Edited by Parker Hageman, 20 August 2012 - 02:43 PM.

"You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time." -- Jim Bouton, "Ball Four"

Vasquez makes sense at this point in the season. The Twins need someone for Blackburn's slot in the rotation and it gives them a chance to get a look at Vasquez early. Hendriks might be another alternative, but he will most likely not get called up until September and even then only if he keeps pitching well at AAA.

Vasquez makes sense at this point in the season. The Twins need someone for Blackburn's slot in the rotation and it gives them a chance to get a look at Vasquez early. Hendriks might be another alternative, but he will most likely not get called up until September and even then only if he keeps pitching well at AAA.

Yeah those two seem to be the options, more likely Vasquez and save Hendriks for Sept....Blackies still due $5.5 mil for 2013...must be nice!

Both good moves. Hopefully the FO has learned from the Blackburn situation in terms of future contracts.

What I just typed is probably an opinion, not a fact. I mean, I'm usually right, so you should maybe assume it is or will be a fact soon, but that's up to you. Also, I am NOT trying to convince anyone I am correct, I'm just talking here, not arguing.

Vasquez is scheduled to pitch tonight for Rochester, so we'll need to see if he makes the start. Since Blackburn is scheduled to start Wednesday, Hendriks makes more sense right now as he started on Friday night and could take that spot.

So what happens with them next? The lead entry in the thread says they are being outrighted. I guess my only question is why are we even keeping them in the organization instead of releasing them? Is it just salary reasons - we're paying them so maybe the Triple-A club can use them? Are they being held in reserve in case the sky falls and they are needed in the future?

So what happens with them next? The lead entry in the thread says they are being outrighted. I guess my only question is why are we even keeping them in the organization instead of releasing them? Is it just salary reasons - we're paying them so maybe the Triple-A club can use them? Are they being held in reserve in case the sky falls and they are needed in the future?

I'd guess either of those reasons is behind it. Generally, if a player doesn't have enough seniority to decline a minor league assignment (which neither Nishi or Blackburn do), teams will go ahead and use them as AAA roster filler. You may as well get SOME value out of that sunk cost, and if nothing else they can buy when the team goes out to dinner. The Twins are generally good about granting a guy his release if he could get a shot with another team, but I'm reasonably certain neither of these guys are getting major league offers anytime soon.

"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

So what happens with them next? The lead entry in the thread says they are being outrighted. I guess my only question is why are we even keeping them in the organization instead of releasing them? Is it just salary reasons - we're paying them so maybe the Triple-A club can use them? Are they being held in reserve in case the sky falls and they are needed in the future?

I'd guess either of those reasons is behind it. Generally, if a player doesn't have enough seniority to decline a minor league assignment (which neither Nishi or Blackburn do), teams will go ahead and use them as AAA roster filler. You may as well get SOME value out of that sunk cost, and if nothing else they can buy when the team goes out to dinner. The Twins are generally good about granting a guy his release if he could get a shot with another team, but I'm reasonably certain neither of these guys are getting major league offers anytime soon.

The fact they have been outrighted means they must have cleared waivers, so you're probably right.